BSc Economics and Finance

at Bangor University

Program structure

Year 1 Compulsory Modules:

Economics (Autumn & Spring) 

These modules will provide an overview of the history of global economic development as well as considering important contemporary issues such as inequality and sustainability of economic growth. They will introduce the key tools and models that economists use. The autumn module will focus on microeconomics – how individuals make choices and how they interact in markets. The spring module will focus on macroeconomics – the behaviour of the economy as a whole.

Business Analytics 

This module will focus on manipulation of algebraic expressions, collection and presentation of data, producing descriptive statistics, measuring uncertainty using probability, estimating confidence intervals, hypothesis testing and investigating association and causality.

Financial Techniques & Analysis 

The module covers quantitative techniques that are applicable in a wide variety of Financial and Economic contexts.

Year 2 Compulsory Modules:

Econometrics 

The module will cover the fundamentals of probability theory and of statistical methods. It will introduce the method of ordinary least squares (OLS) used in estimating the quantitative relationship between economic variables, in the context of cross-sectional data. There will be instruction on data management and the use of the statistical and regression tools within Excel. 

Corporate Finance

This module will examine the concepts and principles underlying key financial decisions and provide an introduction to corporate finance. Topics will include: Present value and the opportunity cost of capital; Net present value and alternative methods of investment appraisal; Project analysis; Financial planning and analysing financial performance; Investment risk and return, and portfolio theory.

Microeconomics 

This module will extend students’ analytical skills in relation to consumer and producer theories and introduce students to general equilibrium analysis and game theory. The module content includes Demand and supply microfoundations, Rational choice, Individual and market demand, the cost of production and profit maximisation, Market structures, Game Theory, Public Goods and Externalities

Macroeconomics 

This module will focus on the role of macroeconomics, macroeconomic variables and statistics. The module will also introduce schools of thought and explore the classical and Keynesian models. Moreover, it will focus on aggregate demand and supply analysis, the Phillips curve and the role of expectations.  

Investment and Portfolio Management 

This module will provide a solid grounding in the theory and practice relating to the principal asset classes. The module will cover aspects such as: Investors and investment objectives; Investment management process; Investment risk and return; Portfolio theory; Capital Asset Pricing Model; Valuation (time value of money).

Year 3 Compulsory Modules: 

Financial Economics 

The aim of this module is to show how core theories in finance and banking derive from foundations in economic theory. It will examine decision making in a utility maximising framework under uncertainty and under asymmetric information; and demonstrate how the main results of finance theory emerge from this framework. 

Advanced Corporate Finance 

This module examines the theory and practice of corporate investment and financial decisions. Topics include: capital structure, dividend policy, efficient capital markets, agency theory, mergers and restructuring, foreign exchange and interest rate risk. Particular emphasis will be placed on topical areas within corporate governance and investments.

Course content is for guidance purposes only and may be subject to change.

GCSE Maths at grade C/4 required if not demonstrated by the Level 3 qualification.

Offers are tariff based, 80 - 120 tariff points, from Level 3 qualifications* e.g.:

• A Levels

• BTEC National/Extended Diploma and Cambridge Technical Extended Diploma: MMP - DDM

• International Baccalaureate Diploma

• Access: Pass

• City & Guilds Advanced Technical/Extended Diploma: considered on a case by case basis

• Welsh Baccalaureate is accepted

• T-levels: considered on a case-by-case basis. 

Home (UK) students

• The cost of a full-time undergraduate course is £9,000 per year

International Tuition Fee For Full Year

• £15,750

Career opportunities

Studying economics and finance will open up access to a wide range of possible career paths. These are widely recognised as two of the subject areas with the best prospects for future employability. This degree programme will provide students with useful skills and knowledge, including: 

• analytical skills – the ability to distil and analyse complex problems; 

• market insights (understanding how markets work and the importance of incentives; 

• the ability to work with data and using it to generate real-world insights. 

Economics and finance graduates go on to work in a variety of careers, including financial services, the civil service, industry, education and the third sector.